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I met Marisa once. Just as nice in person as in the movies. Only wish your gig were not 100 miles away. If you do something in Connecticut, please post.

And good luck with it!!!

Marisa? Okay, I take back everything nasty I said about you...you can be #1 on my gay list...even above Obama...but you have to please get this message to her:

"Marisa, I know you'd love taking a drive with me in my e46 manual. Please read all my Fanatic's posts and you'll learn how deep my love for you is. Also, I make a Quiche Lorraine that every woman who's ever eaten, has then made passionate love to me. True story. Do you like quiche, Marisa?"

Do this for me, and you and I are forever!

/threadjack

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I'm so depressed. No one wants to come see me. :(
Facebook.com/DMAXstandup Mangofy your E46!

Marisa? Okay, I take back everything nasty I said about you...you can be #1 on my gay list...even above Obama...but you have to please get this message to her:

"Marisa, I know you'd love taking a drive with me in my e46 manual. Please read all my Fanatic's posts and you'll learn how deep my love for you is. Also, I make a Quiche Lorraine that every woman who's ever eaten, has then made passionate love to me. True story. Do you like quiche, Marisa?"

Do this for me, and you and I are forever!

/threadjack

threadjack + 1 - Listen, if I could get that message to Marisa today, I would. But I sure as hell wouldn't mention anything about you!

Yeah, she was a sweetheart the night I met her. Omg, I'd gladly give up your car for her

threadjack + 1 - Listen, if I could get that message to Marisa today, I would. But I sure as hell wouldn't mention anything about you!

Yeah, she was a sweetheart the night I met her. Omg, I'd gladly give up your car for her

She's not your type...I just know. If you want a chance of being in her good graces, you should act on my behalf...I'll make sure you get some time with her...don't worry about that.

...and to get thread back on track...

Repeat...drive like a truck in traffic...hold back, be patient, just imagine yourself as 3200 lbs. of killing power! Relax, listen to NPR, look at friendly people stuck in traffic with you, don't ride the clutch, and don't try to fight people that want to get in front of you...just cruise in 1st, off the gas, and you'd be surprised at how little you need to shift.

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I'm so depressed. No one wants to come see me. :(
Facebook.com/DMAXstandup Mangofy your E46!

I've never actually heard of anyone who was tested for parallel parking in their driver's test. It seems to be a common driver's test stereotype that every teen struggles with the parallel parking part of the test. It's somewhat of a joke. Watch any movie or show where a teen is taking a driver's test and they always stress out about parallel parking.

I live in the middle of nowhere PA. There is almost no place to parallel park even if I wanted to. I was still tested on parallel parking. And as I said earlier, it was just about the only part they took seriously on the test.

And another thing... We do things a little differently than in the UK. Not better or worse. Just different. And even though they have the steering wheel on the wrong side, the fact that they never acquired a taste for automatics is a great thing. I'm sure most here with automatics do a superb job of driving. But the average American driver is an idiot behind the wheel and, in my opinion, much of that comes from isolation, or lack of driver involvement. And the number one item that allows for this lack of involvement is the gd automatic transmission. So kudos to the Brits for their manuals, and who cares whether you call it a parking brake, emergency brake, or hand brake.

I agree here. I bought an auto for this specific reason, I wanted to be driven around and not have to worry about shifting or traffic. I tracked and daily'd a modded S2000 6 years prior to this car. I wanted the complete opposite, so i bought a 4-door auto. That being said, I'm a very alert driver. I don't have my hand on the radio or texting ,now that I don't have to shift.

"Most cars don't even have hand brakes anyway. They have a foot actuated parking/emergency brake that works with a ratcheting motion like a hand brake." Jeez. You sure you are not talking about dodgem cars?

So its a handbrake that you activate with your foot?

The topic is manual gears not automatic. But the last time I drove an auto, which was many years ago, I recall there being a P position that would lock the vehicle when in traffic. It was one up from N (neutral) and two up from D (drive) . I still had a hand brake though. Again no need to sit with your foot on the brake pedal and your brake lights blinding and annoying the crap out of the driver behind you.

"I think you are the odd man out on your driving habits." Obviously. I'm British. We know how to drive manuals. We have to demonstrate it to the authorities before we are allowed to.

My cousin had a manual transmission car (VW Passat CC) that had no had brake. Only an electronic parking brake.

I live in the middle of nowhere PA. There is almost no place to parallel park even if I wanted to. I was still tested on parallel parking. And as I said earlier, it was just about the only part they took seriously on the test.

I think my car's PO never learned to parallel park, but practiced at it a lot!

Every one of my wheels look like this. (Mango, don't comment on the dirt. I've driven 400+ miles in the last three days and haven't had a chance to wash the car yet.)

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“The test of the machine is the satisfaction it gives you. There isn't any other test. If the machine produces tranquility it's right. If it disturbs you it's wrong until either the machine or your mind is changed.”

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Miller

I just don't know what I'd do with 560 hp that doesn't involve getting arrested.

OP, drive it like it's a truck. Keep your distance, don't feel like you need to keep spaces tight to prevent others from getting in...just let them pass.

I've been driving a manual longer than most here I'd bet.

Also, when you're off the gas, remember that those behind you assume everyone has an auto and uses brakes to slow down...in faster traffic when I 'lift' off gas, if someone is close behind, I'll tap brakes lightly a few times...just to make sure the guy behind sees a brake light.

You know, you can cruise in 1st without giving it any gas, right? Maybe 3-4 mph...if not slower. Even in NYC traffic, with enough distance in front, I can usually stay in gear a lot of the time.